UK Bishops hail Nuclear Weapon Ban Treaty as historic milestone

UK Bishops again call on the United Kingdom “to forsake its nuclear arsenal” as the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons comes into effect on 22 January.

By Vatican News staff reporter

On Friday, 22 January 2021, the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW) comes into force.

Road to ratification

This Nuclear Weapon Ban Treaty is the first legally binding international agreement to comprehensively prohibit nuclear weapons. It was adopted on 7 July 2017, and opened for signature on 20 September 2017.

On that same day, Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher, the Vatican’s Secretary for Relations with States, signed the Treaty at the United Nations Headquarters in New York. When Honduras ratified the treaty in late October 2020, it reached the mandatory 50 ratifications.

The Treaty comprehensively prohibits states from participating in any nuclear weapons-related activities, including development, testing, possession, stockpile, use, or threat of use of nuclear weapons.

Signatories are also obliged “to prevent and suppress any activity prohibited under the TPNW undertaken by persons or on territory under its jurisdiction or control.”

A number of countries have objected to the Treaty. The United States, the United Kingdom, and France say it “risks undermining the existing international security architecture which contributes to the maintenance of international peace and security,” and that all states “share a common responsibility to protect and strengthen our collective security system in order to further promote international peace, stability, and security.”

Pope Francis on Nuclear Weapons

During his Apostolic Visit to Japan in November 2019, Pope Francis spoke of the “unspeakable horror” of nuclear weapons.

Visiting Nagasaki, he called on world leaders to end their stockpiling. “Convinced as I am that a world without nuclear weapons is possible and necessary,  I ask political leaders not to forget that these weapons cannot protect us from current threats to national and international security,” he said.

UK Bishops call

As the Treaty comes into force on 22 January, UK Bishops have described it as an “historic milestone on the path to nuclear disarmament and an opportunity to refocus on genuine peacebuilding rooted in dialogue, justice, respect for human dignity, and care for our planet.”

In a statement issued on Monday, Declan Lang, Bishop of Cliftonand Chair of the International Affairs Department, of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales, along with Bishop William Nolan and Bishop William Kenney, reiterate their call for the UK “to forsake its nuclear arsenal.”

They point out that “the resources spent on manufacturing, maintaining and upgrading these weapons of mass destruction should be reinvested to alleviate the suffering of the poorest and most vulnerable members of our society, for the Common Good of all peoples.”

The Bishops also implore the UK government “to strengthen its arms control regulations, tackling the manufacture and sale of other weaponry, which continues to destroy so many lives throughout the world.”

Finally, they pray that the “Lord, Father of our human family,” will “move us to create healthier societies and a more dignified world, a world without hunger, poverty, violence and war.”

The invasion of the US Capitol building on Wednesday, which many commentators say was a direct result of President Trump’s rhetoric at a rally called on the day that the US Congress was set to certify the election of Joe Biden, gives pause for thought.

President Trump addressed the rally of his supporters and urged them to march to the Capitol building.  Did he think through the possible ramifications of urging his supporters to converge on the seat of American democracy on that particular day?

On deeper level, does President Trump really believe that the election was stolen and there was significant fraudulent voting, given the evidence to the contrary and that the election results have been  generally accepted in America and around the world? If not, what was his purpose in maintaining something which is patently untrue? If he does believe this assertion what does this show about his state of mind?

On the back of this question it is reasonable to ask whether his supporters on Wednesday believed the election was fraudulent.  Interviews with some supporters by the BBC would seem to show they did. If this is true, how could they believe it – I mean really believe it in the face of all the evidence?

Furthermore demonising the Democrats is hardly conducive to unity and good will among Americans.

Looking back in history there are plenty of examples of people seeking influence and power making false assertions, advancing ridiculous theories and ideologies which run counter to logic, fact, common sense and moral rectitude and yet are widely believed.

It seems that people can believe almost anything if the circumstances are right.  

• One race or ethnicity is better or superior than another
• Rich people are better and more worthy of esteem than poor people
• Climate change is an illusion
• Threatening the world with annihilation with weapons of mass destruction maintains peace
• Mothers ending the lives their unborn babies is an inalienable human right
• Same sex marriage is possible

—————————————————————————————————————

 Many who hold views which are counter cultural are too easily demonised.  

For example, Christians who are welcoming and non judgemental towards those with same a sex preference and support Civil Partnerships but maintain the time honoured and Scriptural understanding that marriage by definition is necessarily unitive and procreative, are accused of homophobia and not permitted (de facto) to hold office in government or serve as Registrars or in other similar professions on a conscientious objection basis.  

Similar prejudice is directed by many towards those who maintain that because an unborn baby is human it should be afforded the same rights as those whose voices can be heard. Paramount among human rights is the right to life.

Those who are pro life in fact have the deepest concern for the welfare of mothers -to -be and maintain that all too often poverty, sexual abuse by partners and pressure from others lead to abortion and it is these issues which really need to be addressed so that mothers enjoy the right to have their babies.

Many are too ready to believe;

• What they are told to believe
• What they want to believe for reasons extrinsic to the merits of the belief itself
• What prejudice and ignorance prompt them to believe

“Make America great again.”

By denying climate change? By building an expensive wall along the Mexican border? By leaving the WHO? By moving the American Embassy to Jerusalem? By permitting guns to be in the hands of mentally ill people so they can go on a killing spree? By not supporting the BLM demand for equal treatment for all Americans? By continuing the arms race?

By denying the truth about the election?

As Joe Biden said, it is an ‘embarrassment’ not to concede.  

Wednesday cost the lives of five people who might be walking around today.

There is much at stake and a great many lives lost due to the gullibility pandemic. It will take more than a mask to fix it.